Sledging in Cricket

 Sledging in Cricket

Sledging is a term, used in cricket to describe the devious practice through which some players try to take advantage by verbally insulting and intimidating the opposing players. Weakening the opponent’s concentration can be stated as the ultimate purpose of this act. This will pave the way to lack of performance of the player subjected to sledging. This practice is noticed to be very much effective because the batsman stands within a hearing range of the bowler and several close fielders and vice versa. The insulting may be direct or featured in conversations among fielders designed to be overheard. 

Sledging gone too far?

contrary to the popular conception of sledging, we can see some moments in the game where  sledging is not often outright verbal abuse but in large part is a stream of hushed expletives, passive-aggressive body language, conversations between team-mates, and assorted noises and physical fights.

As in every other sport, mental balance of the players is a major necessity in the cricket field. Like every other human being cricketers are individuals who carry nerves, insecurities, and awareness of weakness. So it’s all a matter of persistence of the players as to how long they can withstand the humiliation, embarrassment, and feelings of not belonging compromise their confidence. The situation becomes worst at some incidents when their personal lives and relationship details are dragged into mockery and humor in the field.

Sledging Into Ethical Consideration. 

Among the many and overlapping guiding principles for a player's behavior, particularly at the professional level, Sledging has been subjected to debate as to acknowledge it as something ethical or unethical. Until and unless this potent yet fragile tool for psychological disruption (Sledging) contributes to the aspect of match-winning while making one’s inning more difficult, the same batsmen who find sledging disgusting while batting will utilize it out in the field for the very same reason. Finally, as long as professional pragmatism and the doctrine of winning prevails, so will sledging, whether publicly acknowledged or not.

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